U-M takes further steps related to swine flu outbreak

President Mary Sue Coleman called for a temporary suspension of all university-sponsored travel to Mexico, pending further developments in the outbreak of swine flu in the United States and abroad.

The directive came Tuesday after a briefing from Chief Health Officer Dr. Robert Winfield, and Dr. Sandro Cinti, a U-M infectious disease expert and associate professor of internal medicine.

The university’s actions are consistent with guidelines issued Monday afternoon by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommended that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico.

This suspension takes place immediately and applies to university funded or sponsored travel to Mexico by students, faculty or staff for study, research, business or other university-related activity.

The swine flu outbreak remains very fluid, and the future progress of this disease is impossible to predict. Accordingly, this temporary travel suspension will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Persons with plans to travel to Mexico in the coming weeks are urged to be flexible and to consider alternative arrangements in case this suspension remains in effect. It is recommended that those planning travel later in the summer purchase refundable tickets.

For those students, faculty or staff already in Mexico, the university recommends taking all necessary precautions to minimize the risk of exposure to those with flu-like illnesses and returning to the United States at the earliest opportunity.